Page 43 of When Annika Met Thom

Thom eased closer to read the title on the DVD box, then looked at her. “You expected a movie calledTitanicto end well?”

“Everyone said it was romantic!”

“Some people think tragic endings are romantic, I guess.”

“Do you?”

“No.”

She peeked over the tissue. “You don’t believe in happily-ever-after?”

He heard the hope in her voice. “Happy for now is good enough for me.”

She wiped her tears and looked at him. “Living in the moment.”

“Pretty much. Enjoy what you have, instead of worrying about what you don’t.”

“They don’t make many movies about that.”

“Maybe they should. Change the tide of expectation.” He perched on one kitchen chair, keeping his distance but not wanting to leave her alone.

She pulled up her knees and wrapped her arms around them, watching him. Her hair was loose and her feet were bare, her eyes dark. “What do you think is romantic?”

He bristled but she raised a hand.

“It’s not a forever question. I need some more possible answers than the ones I have.”

Thom chose to believe her. “Looking out for each other.”

She smiled a little. “When crossing the street?”

“Well, maybe that too. I think it’s romantic when a couple pay attention to each other.”

“Remembering birthdays and anniversaries?”

“Yes, but not the obvious ones. My parents, for example, aren’t demonstrative, but my mom was devastated when her mom died. My dad remembers the day, every year, and brings her flowers.”

“That’s sweet.”

“And she makes one of his favorite meals when he’s dealing with challenges at work, then they sit and talk together.”

“What does he do?”

“He’s a supervisor at a plant that fabricates metal parts. They get these big jobs that always have to be done in record time. Very stressful for him.”

She smiled a little. “You get your sense of responsibility from him.”

“Maybe.” Thom shrugged. “My dad gives my mom foot rubs at night when she’s worked a double shift. They watch some old movie together if she’s had a hard day, because she loves the old black-and-white classics. He doesn’t care about them, but he sits with her.”

“What does she do?”

“Nurse. In the ER these days. She changes it up every few years. She says more than one death per shift shakes her tree.”

“I can imagine.” Annika paused to consider what he’d said. “They take care of each other.”

“Yes.”

“Which means that being thoughtful is romantic to you.”

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